Inserting machine



Oct. 7, 1941. F. w. BARKLEY INSER'IING MACHINE Filed April 2, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet l 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 F. w. BARnLEY INSERTING MACHI NE Filed April 2, 1940 u "I: LLL

Oct. 7, 1941.

WWW NAL Oct. 7, 1941. F. w. BARKLEY INSERTING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Shet 4 Filed April 2, 1940 Oct. 7, 1941.

F. W. BARKLEY INSERTING MACHINE vFiled April 2, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 7, 1.941. F. BARKLEY IN SER'IZING" MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 2, 11940) Oct 7, 1941. F. w. BARKLEY INSERTING MACHINE.

Filed April 2, '1940 7 Sheets-Sheetv 7 k v w Patented Oct. 7, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE i l 2,258,479 W INSER'IYING MACHINE Fred W. Barkley, Winthrop, Mass.

Application April 2, 1940, Serial No. 327,429 20 Claims. (arm-51,)

The present invention relates to the manufacture of those ornamental pieces of paper or cardboard, which are sent on certain occasionsisuch, for instance, asChristmas, Easter, or birthdays, j

as an expression of compliment or good wishes, 5 the accompanying drawings illustrating the best.

and which are herein termed, greetingi'cards.

Many of these greeting cards comprise a sheet folded twice to form a booklet, known as an 8 page fold, having four leaves and eight pages, the frontispiece often beingornamented byan internal cut out or border trimming,fin which. case it is desirable to insert a sheet or,,foi1 be-- tween the first and second leaves to form a backing of contrasting color for thejcut-out, trimmed border, or both of them. :Sometimeathe insert sheet is provided with a cut-out somewhat smaller than the cut-out in the lfrontispiece, so that, when inserted between thefirst and second leaves, it may be exposed to 'view along thein-v ternal window of the cut-out in the frontispiece and thus decorate it. It is highly desirable that the inserts 0r backing sheets be inserted in the greeting cards, respectively, in a definite manner, so that the margin of the insert which is ex-. posed to view shall project uniformly beyond the edge of the greeting card the insert is designed to decorate. This desideratum. is impracticable commercially, as the inserting operation is a manual operation and thus subject to variations inherent therein, 1

Furthermore, it is highly desirable that the envelopes in which greeting cards are mailedbe. associated with the'cards whenoffered for sale. To this end, the manufacturers either 'insertan envelope between adjacent leaves of the card or insert a card underneath the flap of the envelope. These last two operations, termed interleaving and flapping, respectively, are, lik the operation of inserting hereinbefore referred to, manual operations. For convenience in disclosure herein, the term inserting is; used to designate all three of these operations, and any other in which one part is inserted between adjacent faces formed by a fold in another part.

The principal object of the present invention is to produce an inserting machine primarily, but not necessarily, for use in the manufacture of greeting cards.

To the accomplishment of this object, and such others as may appear hereinafter, the various features of the present invention relate to certain constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and then set forth broadly and in detail in the appended claims I which possess advantages readily apparent to those. skilled in the art.

The various features of the present invention will be readily. understood from an inspection of forms of the invention, atpresent devised, in

which,v

Figure l is a View inplan of the inserting machine, the figure being broken centrally to allow 10 the ,view to occupy a sheetof the drawingsv without unduly reducing the size of the illustrated parts, the front of the machine being at the right;

Fig. 2 is a detail view in front elevation, partly .15 in section;

Figure 3 is a detailview in left-side elevation, partly in section; v 3 r Fig. 3a is a detail view in sectional elevation on theline 4-4.Fig. 3;

Fig. 4 is a detail view in left-side sectional elevation on the line 4-4, Fig.1;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammaticview in plan, partly in section, principally of the seven Vertical cam operated rock-shafts and the linkage rocked "ZB 'thereby, the two slides for the two sliding suction cups being shown in construction lines;

Fig, 6 is a detail viewinfront sectional elevation on the Iine'B- B, Fig. 1;

Fig. '7, (collectively), is a diagrammatic view 66 m plan showing, generally, right to left, the

magazines for supporting in upended stacks the inserts, the greeting cards and the assembled greeting cards and inserts, together with the suction plate, the suction cups, the gripping fin- 3e*""gers, the carrier travelling therewith, and the stacker, this figure being used in describing the invention in general terms;

Fig. 8 isa detail view in left-side elevation of ..,the plate which transfers the inserts, one at a 4 .time, from the right-hand stack, (Fig. '7), to a position with the greeting card;

Fig. 9 is a sectional View on the line 9-9, Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a detail view in longitudinal sectional Fig, 14 is a detail view, partly in section, of a modified form of adjustment for the insert magazine;

Fig. 15 is a detail view in sectional elevation on the line l5-l 5, Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a detail view in sectional elevation of the air valve, and

Fig. 17 is a detail view in left-side elevation, partly in section, of the gripper fingers support.

Described in general terms, the machine provided with three magazines 20, 21 and 22, (Fig. 7). When the machine is performing the operation in which the inserts are inserted between adjacent leaves of a greeting card, the magazine 20 is provided with an upended stack of inserts 23, each comprising a single sheet, theornamental face of which is directed toward the discharge end of the magazine. In this operation, the magazine 2| is provided with an upended stack of the greeting cards 24. Each of the greeting cards is provided with a horizontal and a vertical folded edge engaged, respectively, with the bottom and left-hand sideof the magazine, viewing the centralfigure in Fig. '7. Associated with the magazine 2| are three suction cups 25, 26 and 21, the cups '25 and 26 being usually mounted and operated to separate the first or frontispiece leaf of the greeting card from the second leaf thereof, while the second leaf is engaged by the suction cup 21 which holds the second, third and fourth leaves of the card in placeupon the right side of the outermost face,

of the greeting card stack, (Fig. 7). In the meantime, a suction plate 28 is moved first into engagement with the exposed face of the outermost insert in the upended stack in the magazine 20 and then back into the position shown at the right, Fig. 7. The suction plate 28 is then moved to the left, (Fig. '2), to bring the plate and the insert carried thereby within the first and second leaves of the card while they are held separated by the-suction cups 25, 26 and 27.

During. this movement of the suction plate 28, a tray 29 and a pair of gripping fingers 3i travelling therewith are moved from the full-line position of Fig. 7 to the construction-lineposition thereof to insert the tray 29 under-the horizontal folded edge of the greeting card, (shown in the central position of Fig. 7), and to cause the gripping jaws 30 to grasp the vertical folded edge 3[ thereof and the vertical fold separating the third and fourth leaves of the card and bind the adjacent faces of the first and second leaves of the card upon the included insert. The suction on the cups 25 and 26 and the plate 23 is then broken to allow the tray 29 and the gripping jaws 30 to pull the card, together with the insert, away from the suction cup 27 until the vertical folded edge 3| of the card engages an etx'ension 32 on the left-hand side of the magazine 22, viewing Fig. 7, at which time, the jaws 30 are opened to release the assembled card and insert, so that a stacker '33 may push them into the open-end of the magazine 22'. In addition to these fundamental operating instrumentaliites, described in general terms, the machine is provided with a nozzle which applies a spot of adhesive in each cycle of operations to the'eX posed face of the outermost'insert in the stack in the magazine 20, in order that the insert may become secured adhesively to the card under the pressure-exerted upon it in the magazine 22.

As indicated in Fig. 7, the outermost insert stacked in the magazine 20 is located in an oblique vertical plane corresponding, generally, to the oblique vertical plane in which the se ond leaf of the greeting card lies when the first and second leaves are held separated from each other and from the stack of cards in the magazine 2|, by the suction cups 25, 26 and 21'. The three magazines are adjustable in the direction of their lengths and also for different widths of cards and inserts. In addition, the magazine 20 is provided with adjustments, whereby it can be held elevated above the magazine 2|, so that the insert can be inserted in the greeting card at varying distances from the bottom fold thereof, whereby it can be shifted bodily toward and away from the magazine 2|, and whereby the front portion thereof can be tipped laterally to predetermine the correlated relationship between the adjacent edges of the greeting card and the insert when inserted therewithin.

As the suction cups 25, 26 and 21 hold the first and second leaves of the greeting card gaped vertically from the bottom fold and laterally fromthe vertical fold, (Fig. 7), the suction plate 28, instead of travelling in a straight path to insert the insert between the separated first and second leaves of the greeting card, is first elevatedin .a vertical plane to a height above the greeting card and then depressed sharply in the same vertical plane, so that the plate 28 may enter between the separated first and second leaves of the card in av direction downwardly to- .wards the bottom foldof the card and rearwardly towards. the vertical fold thereof, thus to take advantage of the wider gaping portion between the first and second leaves.

. When the interleaving operation is performed in themachine, the envelopes are stacked in the magazine 20, are withdrawn, one at a time,

therefrom,-and are inserted in the greeting cards, which are withdrawn, one at a time, from the magazine 2|, the machine operating exactly as in theinserting operation previously described "in general terms,- except that the adhesive spotting mechanism. is suspended, the suction plate is moved rearwardly, after it engages the envelope, to pull the leading edge thereof out from rinder the left-hand magazine retaining clip shown in Fig. 7, and the position of the greeting cards in the stack thereof may be reversed.

When the flapping operation is performed, the greeting cards and envelopes are withdrawn, one at a time, respectively, from the magazines 20 and 2|, respectively, the adhesive spotting mechanism being suspended and the suction plate 28 having an additional movement imparted to it, in order to pull the leading edge, corresponding to the leading edge 35 of the insert shown in Fig. '7', out from under the left-hand magazine retaining clip shown therein. The other operations to complete the flapping operation are the same as previously describedv for the inserting and V interleaving operations.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 6, the magazine 20 comprises a'horizontal bottom board 36, which is supported by two cross-pieces 31 and 33 unsupported at the left, (Fig. 1), but terminating at the right in bosses 39and M], respectively, which are perforated to receive vertical rods 4| and 42 rising from the top surface of a table 43. The bosses 39 and 40 are provided with set-screws 44 and 45, (Figs. 1 and 2), so that the magazine 20 may b held on the rods 4! and 42 at varying heights above the table 43 in order to vary the location of the inserts 23 within the cards 24 relative to the folded edges thereof by which they are supported upended in a stack in the magazine/2i.

The inserts 2|} areret ain'ed inposition on the board 36 by a pair of angular sheet metal pieces,

.each comprisinga vertical "plate 46 and a flange 41 inturned therefromtowards' the central board 36 to cooperate therewith in supporting'thebottom of the insert stack. The flanges 41 are countersunk to receive the flanged heads 48 of fastenings, the threaded shanks of which enter slots 49 and 50, respectivelyginthe cross pieces31 and 38, butterfiynuts; (not shown) on the free ends of the shanks offth'e "fa's'tening's serving to clamp the twover-ticalsides46 in any desired position of adjustment towards and from each other. 3 1 3 f i i" As shown in Fig. 1,- the left-hand vertical side 46 is longer than'the other vertical side'so that the face of the outermost insert in the stack extends in an oblique verticalpla'ne, the leading edge 35 of the outermost insert being slightly in advance laterally of the trailing edge thereof'with respect to the open end of the magazine 26. The leading and trailing edges'of the outermost insert in the stack are engaged, respectively, by clips and 52 carried,'respectively, by the front ends of the vertical sides 46. t

In order to press the exposed face of the outermost insert in the stack against the clips 5| and 52, the rear face of the stack is engaged by a board 53, (Fig. 6), engaged inturn by a sheet metal follower 54. Depending from the bottom of the follower 54, (Fig, 13), are two blocks 55 and 56 which embrace the, opposite sides ofthe board 36, two straps 51 and 58 se'cured to the bottoms of the blocks 55 and 56 acting as ways to permit the follower 54 to slide on the board 36 as the stack of inserts diminishes in size. The follower 54 .is maintained pressedagainst the board 53 by a weight 59, (Fig. 2), on the freeend of a cord 60, the other end'of which is secured to the botom of the strap 51, (Fig. 13). Intermediate its length, the cord 60 passes around a horizontally arranged pulley 6|, (Figs. 1 and 6), carried by the front end of the board 36 and around a vertically arranged pulley 62 journalled in brackets 63 depending from the rear-end of the board 36.

With this construction, the vertical sides 46 of the insert magazine 20 maybe adjusted to accommodate it to different widths of inserts and the magazine 29 maybe adjusted in the. direction of its length and also elevated on the vertical posts 4| and 42 to vary the, position of the lower edge of the insert relatively to the bottom fold of the card in which the insert i's to be inserted. As a further adjustment, the magazine ZB may be adjusted bodily laterally and the front portions of the walls 46, viewing Fig. 1, may be tilted laterally of their lengths to predetermine accurately the correlated relationship of the bottom of the insert and the bottom of the card in which the insert is to be inserted. i

To this end, the hub 40, (Figs. 14 andl5) of the cross-board 38, besidesbeing mounted loosely on the vertical rod 42, may be embraced by'the jaws 64 and 65. On one side of the rod 42, the hub 40 and the jaws 64 and 65 are pivoted on a horizontal pin 66. On the opposite side of the rod 42, the hub 49 and the jaws 64 and 65 carry a headed bolt 61, the shank of which passes through a curved slot 68 formed in the hub 40 and the jaws 64 and 65, the threaded end of the bolt 61 carrying a butterfly nut69to-take up the limited movement of the partsaround the pivot pin66. a;

The bottom of the rod 42 is reduced in size,

(Fig, 15), and is 'securedtoa pedestal block I6 which slides in ways formed' in aslideway 1| secured to the tabletop 43. To slide the pedestal block 16 and thus adjust the'magazine 26 bodily towards and from the front of the machine or to and fromthe magazine 2|, the block 16 is tapped to receive one end of a threaded'rod 12 which is mounted to rotate, but held from longitudinal movement in, a bracket 13o n'the table top 43,

the free endof the rod 12 having a" manipulating The table top 43, (Fig; 1), also supports two crosspieces 15 and'16 which carry the magazine 2| for the greeting cards and the magazine 22 in which the assembled cards and inserts are stacked, the magazine 2| comprising a pair of angular plates 11 and I8, constituting the sides and bottom of the magazine 2|, the plates being adjustable towards and from each other and in the direction of theirlengths, as in the magazine 20. The magazine 22 comprises a pair of angular plates 19 and 80, constituting the sides and bottom of the magazine, the plates being adjustable towards and from each other and in the direction of their lengths, as in the magazines 20 and 2|. v

The stack of greeting cards 24 is inserted in the magazine 2 I, so that one fold on each of the cards rests upon the inturned flanges of the magazine and so that theother fold oneach of the cards engages the left-handjverticalwall of the magazine, viewing Fig.7, thus leaving free edges of the card at the 'top and attheside, directed towards the leading edge 35 of, themsert carried by the suction plate 28. I

The outermost greeting card' inthe stack in the magazin engages a stationary clip 8|, (Fig. 3), secured to the wall 18 of the magazine 2| and a disk 82 secured to the front end of a horizontal rod 83, (Fig. 4), which is mounted to slide in supports 84 and 85 secured to the-exterior of the wall H of the magazine 2|; fI'he disk 82 is held pressed against the outern'rost' fac of the stack of greeting cards 24 in the magazine 2| by a spring 86 coiled about the rod 83 and interposed between the support 84 and a collar 81 adjustably carried by the rod 83. The spring 86 holds the disk 82 in engagement with the outermost face of the stack of greeting cards in the magazine 2| under a light, critical pressure, so that it offers but little resistance to the withdrawal of the outermost greeting card. in the stack by the suction cups 25 and 26, (Fig.7). Preferably, the extent of movement which thedisk 82 is permitted to make either in or out of engagement with the outermost face of the greeting card in the stack is limited by a stop 88 which is mounted on the rod 63 to engage the support 85.

In order to maintain the outermost face of the stack of greeting cards 24. pressed against the clip 8| and the disk 82, notwithstanding successive withdrawals of the outermost greeting card in the stack, the stack is fed towards the exit of the magazine 2| by rubber or friction tapes which engage the bottom folds on the cards in the stack, the back face of which is engaged by'the vertical face of a book-end 89, which aids somewhat in the feeding of the stack, but the principal function of which is to prevent the cards in the stack from falling backwardly. V a

The horizontal face of the book-end 89 rests upon the upper runsfof a pair of rubber or friction-surfaced tapes90 and 9|, (Figs. 1 and 4).

The tape 96 near the front of} the magazine 2| passes around a pulley 92, (Figs. 1 and 4),

m'ounted, upon: a horizontal; shaft 93 supported upon-brackets 94 secured to the table top 43. The rear end of the tape 90' passes over a pulley 95 secured to a, horizontal shaft 96. journalled in bearings 91 and- 98 on brackets 99 and I09 secured to a flange I depending from the table 43. The lower runs of the tapes 9I and 92 pass over a roll I 02 rotatably mounted in brackets I03 and I04 carried by the table top 4-3.

The upper run of the tape 9| passes over a pulley I05, (Fig. 1), on the shaft 93 and a pulley I06 on the shaft 96. As indicated in Figs. 1 and 4, the pulley [06 is larger than the pulley 95, so that the tape 9I willfeed the free or thinner edges of the greeting cards 24 stacked in the magazine 2| faster than the folded or thicker edges.

To drive the shaft 96, it carries a ratchet I01, (Fig. 4), which is driven in a step-by-step manner by a spring-pressed-driving pawl I08 pivoted upon a plate I09 integral with a depending arm H0, both the plate and the arm being loosely mounted upon the shaft 96 between the ratchet I01 and a collar III, (Fig. 1), secured to the shaft 96.

The plate I09 carries a weight H2, (Fig. 4), which normally rotates the plate and thearm H0 counterclockwise, (Fig. 4), to hold the shank of a bolt H3, which connects the free end of the arm H0 to one end of a link H4, in engagement with the bottom of aslot I I therein. The other end of the link. H4 is pivotally connected to an arm I I6, (Fig. 5) projecting from a vertical rockshaft H1, the opposite, ends of which oscillate in pedestal boxes H8 and H9, (Fig. 4), secured, respectively, to the bottom of the table 43 and a platform I secured to webs I2I and I22, which connect the front pair of legs I23 to the back pair of legs I24, upon which legs the table 43 is supported.

Projecting laterally from the rock-shaft I I1 is an arm I25, .(Fig. 12) upon the free end of which a roll I26 is mounted in position to engage the face of a cam I21. mounted upon a cam-shaft I28. The roll I26 is maintained engaged with the cam I21 by a spring I29 which is coiled around a rod I30 one end of which passes loosely through a bracket I3I on the platform I20. The spring I29 is interposed betwen the bracket I3I and a head I32 on the'rod I30. A conical depression on the head I32 is engaged by a conical point I33 carried by one end of an arm I34 projecting from the rock-shaft I I1.

The cam-shaft I28, (Fig. 2), is provided with a worm-wheel I35 which is mounted within a. commercial form of worm-gear-speed-reducer I36 secured to the platform I20. The wormwheel I35 is driven by a worm I31, (Fig, 2), mounted on a horizontal shaft I38 J'Qurnalled in brackets I39 depending from the bottom of the table 43. The shaft I38 is provided with a pulley I40 which is driven by a. belt I4I from a pulley I42 mounted on a jack-shaft I43 carried by a standard I44 secured to a platform I45 joining the webs I2I and I22. The jack-shaft I43 is driven from the electric motor I41 by a belt I48 which passes around a pulley I49 on the commutator shaft I50 and a pulley I51 on the jackshaft.

With this construction, the link H4, (Fig. 4), is vibrated to oscillate the plate I09 and the depending arm H0 on the shaft 96, thus to impart a succession of driving steps to the ratchet I01 to drive the tapes 90 and BI and maintain the outermost greeting card in the magazine pressed against; the stationary clip 8| and the movable disk- 82-, a spring-pressed pawl I52, (Fig. 4);, pivoted on the bottom of the bearing 91, (Fig. 1), serving to hold the ratchet I01 in the angular position to which it has been rotated by the pawl I08.

As the movable disk 82.- is; held against the outermost card in the stack of greeting cards in the magazine with a light, critical pressure, it is desirable to provide mechanism for interrupting the feed of the greeting cards forwardly in the magazine 2-I as. soon as a tendency develops for the stack of greeting cards to push the disk 82 outwardly against the pressure of the spring 86, (Fig. 4) To this end, the rear end of the rod 83 is connected to one end. of a small lever I52 centrally pivoted on a bracket I53 carried by the flange IOI. The lower end of the lever I52 is shaped as a latch I54.

When the disk 82, (Fig. 4), is in a normal position, the spring 86 holdsthe latch I54 out of engagement with a ledge I55 on the feeding plate I09. When the pressure exerted by the stack of greeting cards being fed forwardly in the magazine 2i moves the disk 82 outwardly, or to the right, viewing Fig; 4, the rear end of the rod 83 allows the latch I54v to engage over the ledge I55, thus preventing the return of the plate I99 and. arm H9 to their original positions under the influence of gravity. and thus preventing further oscillation of the plate I09 and the arm H0 on the shaft 96, the shank of the bolt H3 vibrating idly in the slot H5. The continued feed of the stack of greeting cards in the magazine 2| is suspended until the release of the pressure on the disk 82 enables, the spring 86 to withdraw the latch I54 from the, ledge I55, thus to permit the plate I09 to resume its feed of the ratchet I01.

The-storage magazine 22 for the cards, which have been provided with inserts, is similar to the other two magazines, except that it is longer and differs in the character of the clips which engage the outermost face of the cards in the stack. As shown in Fig. 1, the exterior of the Walls 19 and of the magazine 22 are provided, respectively, with a spring-pressed clip I56, the free end of which is bent around the vertical end face of such walls into. engagement with the outermost face of the card in the stack. The wall 19 of the magazine 22 is extended, (Figs. 1 and 4), to act as the stop 32,, (Fig. 7) hereinbefore referred to.

In order to withdraw the inserts 23 from the insert magazine 20, the machine is provided with a suction plate 28, (Figs. 1, 3, 8 and 9), which is .provided with a short vertical portion I51 and a longer horizontal portion I58. These portions are provided with a connected internal passage I59,

the vertical portion thereof having three short passages I80 connecting the passage I59 to the -,atmosphere, and the horizontal portion of the passage having a short. passage I6I connecting the passage I59 through a flexible tube I62 connected to a suitable air-exhausting system, (not shown), for causing atmospheric air to be drawn ii-into the suction plate and out through the tube I62 in the direction of the arrow, (Fig. 1). Adjacent each of the openings I60, the face of the suction plate 28 is countersunk to provide a seat I 63 for a rubber-ring washer I64.

One end of the horizontal portion of the suction plate 28 is connected to a block I65, (Figs. 1, 2 and 3), which is clamped to one end of a vertical rod I66 rising from a yoke I61 pivoted on a horizontal pin I68 carried by a slide I69 mounted -to slide in a horizontal plane parallel to the hori- Spe y, n the agazine 20, so, that it is desirzontal axis about which the yoke I61 tips.

The slide I69, (Figs. 2 and5),is mounted to slide in ways I formed in a carriage I1I mounted to slide on a horizontal rod I12. The carriage I1I is provided with ears I13 which embrace a stationary ledge I14 supported from the bottom of the table 43. The slide I69 carries a roll I15 which is held pressed against an elongated bar I16by a coiled spring I11 interposed between the carriage HI and a block I18 on the slide I69.

The opposite ends of the bar I16 are pivotally connected to two arms I19 and I80 carried, respectively, by two vertical rock-shafts I8I and I82 pedestaled like the rock-shaft II1, (Fig. 4). Projecting from the rock-shaft I8I are two other arms I83 and I84, (Fig. 12). The outer end of the arm I83 carries a roll "I85 on the cam-shaft I28, the roll being held engaged with the cam I86 by a spring I81 having a construction and; mode of operation likethe'spring I29.

The suction plate carriage I H isslid along the rod I12 and the ledge I14 from a face cam I88, (Figs. 4 and 12), on the cam-shaft I28, through engagement with a roll I89 mounted on the longer arm of a lever I90 pivoted on a short rod I9I projecting inwardly from the platform I20. The roll I89 is held in engagement with the face cam I88 by a spring I92, (Fig. 3), which is coiled about a rod I93 mounted to slide and oscillate in an opening I94 formed in a bracket I95 secured to the platform I96. The rod I93 is provided witha head I91 between which and the bracket I95 the spring I 92-is interposed. The exterior of the head I91 is provided with a conical depression which receives a conical pointl98 on the shorter arm of the lever I90.

The longer armof the lever I90 is connected to one end of a link I99, the other end of which is provided with a lateral pin 200 which is received in a slot 20! formed in an' arm 202. The lateral pin 208 may be held in the slot 20I in any desired position of adjustment by two screws 203 and 204 carried bythe arm 202. The arm 202 swings on a stub-shaft 205 secured to a bracket 266, (Fig. 4), projecting'inwardly from the web I22. The upper end of the arm 202 is provided with a slot 201 which receives adjustablya pin 208 carried from the bottom of the carriage I69.

With this construction, the cam I21, through the slide I69, first moves the suction plate28 into engagement with the outermost insert in the magazineat a time when the plate, as will be described hereinafter, is under a condition of unbalanced atmospheric pressure, to enable the plate to pick the outermost insert in the magazine 20 from the stack therein, and then withdraw the plate, with the insert retained thereon, into the path along which the plate is reciprocated by the cam I88 to bring both the plate and the insert into the critical position of Fig. '1 and to return the plate to its original position preparatory to a new cycle of operations. During the movement of the suction plate by the cam I88, the cam I21 functions to maintain the bar I16, (Fig. 5), in proper position to allow the roll I15 to run therealong without actuation of the slide I69.

' In the inserting operation, the suction plate moves in a constant path into and out of engagement with the outermost insert stacked in the magazine 20, as the insert is sufficiently flexible to be pulled from under the clips 5| and 52. In the interleaving and flapping operations, however, the.

envelopes and the greeting cards are stacked, re-

the cams I21 and I86, outwardly away from the stack of envelopes or greeting cards and forwardlyinto the path in which the suction plate travels toplace the envelope or greeting card car- -ried -thereby in between the greeting card or the flaps ofthe" envelope, as the case may be, held separated by the suction cups 25, 26 and 21 at the central station, Fig. 7.

This desirable additional movement imparted to the suction plate 28 in connection with the picking up of envelopes or greeting cards and the removing of them, one at a time, from the magazine 20, is obtained merely by an angular adjustment of the cam I86 on the cam-shaft I28. To this end, the hub 209, (Fig. 12), of the cam I86 i's' provided with a slot 2I0 which embraces the shank o'f'a screw 2II by which the hub 209 is secured to the cam-shaft I28. Actually, the cam I86 is shifted angularly to operate its connections to the suction plate I28 earlier in flapping and interleaving than in inserting.

Referring now to the central figure in Fig. '1, it is clear that, asthe first and second leaves of the greeting card are held separated by the suction cups 25, 26 and 21, waiting the arrival of the suction-plate 28- with the removed insert thereon, the separation between the first and second leaves diminishes inwidth from the topsthereof down- Wardlyto the common fold therebetween, and that, therefore, the higherup, relative to the bottom fold, the insert enters between the separated first and second leaves, the less chance there is for an improper insertion. In order that the suction plate 28 may insert the insert between the separated first and second leaves of the greeting card in a path which is downward and rearward, relatively to the bottom and vertical folds of the greeting card, the yoke" l 61 carries a cylindrical roll 2IIa which engages acam path 2I2 in a stationary plate 2 I3 which'is adjustable vertically on the vertical arms- 2I4 of brackets 2I5 adjustably mounted on the table 43. The cam path 2I2 is shaped to tip the'suction plate 28 upwardly about the pivot I68 and thus elevate the plate above the plane of the tops of thefirst and second leaves of the greeting card and then, as the insert starts toenter between the first and second leaves of the greeting card, to tip the suction plate downwardly-to cause the insert to move downwardly and rearwardly into proper relationship with the bottom and vertical folds common to the separated; first and second leaves of the greeting card.

The, adjustable connection for the cam plate 2| 3 -permits it to be tipped upwardly or downwardly in a vertical plane to correlate its angularjposition with the angular position of the magazine 20, when the latter is adjusted through manipulation of the hand-wheel 14, (Fig, 14). i

In order to provide the'outermost insert in the magazine 20 withia spot of adhesive before it is withdrawn from the stack therein, the machine is provided with a source of adhesive supply comprising a tank 2I6, (Fig. 2), carried high above the table 43 on a rod .2I1 secured thereto. One end of a flexible tube "2L8 is connected to the bottom of the tank 2I6, so that the a'dhesivemay flow from the tank into the flexible tube under the influence of gravity. The other end of the fiexible tube 2I8 is connectedto ,a nozzle 2I9 having a frusto-conical discharge passage 228, (Fig. 10) maintained normally closed by a blunt .frusto-conical needle 22I backed by a coiled spr n The nozzle 219 is clamped to a block 222, .(Figs. 2 and 6) which is connected adjustably to an arm 223 secured to a vertical rock-shaft 224, .(Figs. 1, 4 and 5), journalled in the table 43.

The rock-shaft 224 is provided with a second arm .225. ;F 2),, av n a cam I011. 226 h d e gaged with the face of a cam 22] .1 the camshaft I28 by a spring construction. the details o h h a e simi ar to the corr spondin construetions associated with the cams 121., 35 nd the discharge orifice when the needle 2.2I recedes within the nozzle upon contact with the stack .of inserts.

, As pointed out heretofore, the operation of the nozzle is suspended when the machine performs the operations of interleavingand flapping. To

this end, the rod 2I1 carries a collar 228. which in turn carries a hook 229 arranged to latch the nozzle-carrying arm 223 in an inoperative position, in which position the cam roll 226, (Fig. 12)., is drawn away from the cam 2.21.. Referring back tothe .central figure, Fig. 7, the suction cups 25, 2.6 and .21 are shown holding the first and second leaves of the reetin card separated, with the insert and the suction plate positioned within the separated first and second leaves. 1 The suction cup 21, (Figs. land 3),, is carried, laterally adjust ble, upon a ha pla e 239 which is adjustable verticallyon. a ver icalrod .23.! sup: p rted from the Wall 13 of the m azin 2!. The suction up .21 is c nnected by a flexible os 2.3. to th ai xhau tin system, n t sh wn he. suct on cu nd .2 a e conn cted. esp-ective1y, to flexible hoses 233 and 234, (Fig. 1), which are connected together and to the flexible hose I62 through a pipe 235, (Fig. 16), which is connected through a rotary valve 236, to be described, to a pipe 231 which conducts the air drawn through the suction plate, and the suction cups 25 and 26 to the air-exhausting system, (not shown).

The suction cup 26 constitutes the air-receiving end of a tube 238 to which the flexible hose 2 34 is connected. The tube 238 is carried by a sleeve 239 which is connected adjustably, within an inclined slot 240, to an arm 24I which is pivoted on a horizontal axis to a sliding link'242 mounted to slide in ways 245 carried-by the table 43. One end of thesliding link 242 ispivoted to the free end of an arm 246 projecting laterally from a vertical rock-shaft 241 pedestaled like the rock-shafts H1 and IBI. I,

The rock-shaft 241 is providedwith an-arm 248 which is connectedthroughalink 249 toan arm 258'projecting from a vertical rock-shaft -25I a sence pedestaled like the rock-shafts I I1, .I8-I and 241. The rock-,shaft2-5J, .(Fig'. 12) ,is provided with an arm 252 having a roll 253 therein which is held engaged with a face cam 254 on the cam-shaft I28 by :a spring construction similar to the ones that maintain the rolls I26 and I85 engaged, respectively, with the cams I21 and I66.

The suction cup 2-5 constitutes the air-receiving end of a tube 25.5 to which the flexible hose 233 is connected. The tube 255 is carried by a sleeve 256 which is connected adjustably, within a vertical slot 251, to an arm 258 adjustable laterally-upon a link 2.59 and provided with an open-ended slot 260 which receives a pin 26] to control the sliding movement of the link.

With this construction, the slides 242 and 259, carrying the suction cups 26 and 25, respectively, are connected, (Fig. .5) to the arm 246 different .distances from the axis of the rock-shaft 241 in order to permit the suction cup 26 to move a greater distance than the suction cup 25 in separating the outermost first leave of the greeting card from the leave held by the suction cup 21, (Fi 7) With the construction and mode ,of operation so far described, the insert has been inserted within the separated leaves of the greeting card, as indicated in the central view of Fig. '7. In order to break the suction on the suction cups 25 and 26 andthe suction plate 28, and thus permit them to release the card and its insert for the operation of the tray 29 and the gripping fingers .36 at the proper time, the valve 236, (Fig. 10), is carried by an arm 262, (Fig, 5), projecting laterally from the rock-shaft I I1. The upper face of the valve 236 is held pressed against the lower face of a wooden block 263, (Fig. 16), by a spring 264 which is coiled about a stem 265, on the block 263, loosely mounted in an opening 266' in the table 43, and interposed between the bottom of the table and the top of the block.

The valve 236 is provided with an opening 261 to which the pipe 235 is connected. When the suction is on, the opening 261 registers with the inlet of a passage 268, in the block 263, to the outlet of which the pipe 231 is connected. When the cam I21 oscillates the valve 236 from the full to the construction-line position of Fig. 16, a port 261a, open to the atmosphere, registers with the passage 2-68 and the suction is broken.

The tray 29, (Figs. 1, 3 and '7), comprises a horizontal piece of sheet metal, (Figs. 1 and 3), secured to the top of a bracket 268a, the bottom of which is secured to a carriage 269 mounted to slide on the rod I12 and ledge I14 like the carriage I69. The carriage 269 is reciprocated from respectively.

a cam 210 on the cam-shaft I28 by mechanism duplicating that which reciprocates the carriage I69 from the cam I88.

The gripping fingers 38 are also supported from the carriage 269. To this end, the carriage is provided with a block 21 I, (Figs. 4 and 17) which receives, in spaced relation, thevertical spindles 212 and 213 from which the fingers are supported, The spindles 212 and 213 carry small gears 214 and 215, respectively, which are meshed in order that the gripping fingers may open and close in unison. The extent of movement of the fingers 30 from an open to a closed position is controlled by the engaged slabbed-off faces of two semi-cylindrical bosses 216 and 211,

and 213,

spindle 213 of oneof the fingers 38 is extended below the bottom of the block 2H and is provided fingers normally open. When the carriage 269 is reciprocated to position the fingers 30 upon opposite sides of the folded edge 3| and the folded edge separating the third and fourth leaves of the greeting .card, (Fig. '1), the arm 218 engages a vertical rod 283, (Fig. 5), to close the fingers on the two vertical folded edges and to bind the insert between the internal adjacent faces of the vertical folded edge 35, the ball 282 then dropping into the dimple 288 to hold thefingers 38 closed during the return of the carriage 269 to its initial position, at which point the arm 218 engages the rod 28] to open the fingers and to return the ball into engagement with the dimple 219.

The stacker 33, (Fig. '7), comprises two vertical plates 284 and 285, (Figs. 1 and 3), each of which is connected centrally to a plate 286, which are engaged, back to back, they being secured together in a longitudinally adjustable manner, by a clamp 281 carried by one end of a horizontal rod 288 which is connected by an arm 289 to the clampable free end of a vertical arm 290. vertical arm 290 projects from a hub 29l which is mounted loosely upon a horizontal rod 292 carried by brackets 293 on the table 43.

,To reciprocate the stacker into and out of the entrance to the magazine 22, the hub 29l is connected to the free endof a vertical rod-294 which slides in'a slot 295 through the table 43. The lower end of the rod 294 is embraced by the free end of a link 296 which is pivoted on a vertical rod 291. The other end of. the link is connected to one end of a link 298, the other end of which is connected to an arm 299 projecting laterally from a vertical rock-shaft 308, pedestaled, like the other cam-operated rock-shafts. The rock-shaft 389 is provided with an arm 301 having a cam roll 382 thereon which is. heldengaged with a cam 393' on the cam-shaft I28 by a spring construction similar to the springconstruction associated with the cams I21, I88 and 253. 3

Nothing herein explainedis to be interpreted as limiting the various features of the present invention in the scope of its application to use in connection with. the particular machine or the particular mode of operation or any combination thereof selected for purposes of illustration and explanation. While the particulars of construction herein set forth are well suited to one mechanical form of the invention and to the uses to which it is put, it is not limited as to these uses, nor to these details of construction, nor to the conjoint use of all its features, nor is it to be understood that these particulars are essential sincethey may be modified within the skill of the artisan without departing from the true scope of the actual invention, characterizing features of which are set forth in the following claims by the intentional use of generic terms and expressions inclusive of various modifications.

What is claimed as new, is: '1 1. An inserting machine having, in combination, a source of supply for folded sheets, a source of supply for inserts, means for withdrawing the first and a portion of the second leaves of a folded sheet from the first-named source of sup- The ply, and meansfor' withdrawing an insert from the second-named source of supply and insert- ,ing the withdrawn insert within the withdrawn portion of the folded sheet.

2. An inserting machine having, in combination, a source of supply for folded sheets, a source .of supply for i inserts, said sources of supplies extending parallel to each other, means for withingthe first and a portion of the second leaves cf'a folded sheet from the first-named source of supply, and suction means for withdrawing an insert from the second-named source of supply and inserting itself and the Withdrawn insert within the withdrawn portion of the folded sheet.

.4. An inserting machine having, in combination, a source of supply for folded sheets, a source of supply forinserts, suction means for withdrawing the firstand a portion of the second leaves of a folded sheet from the first-named source of supply, and suction means for withdrawing an insert from the second-named source of supply and inserting itself and the withdrawn insert within the withdrawn portion of the folded sheet, and means for breaking the suction on said suction means when the second-named suction means is within the withdrawn portion of the folded sheet.

.5. An inserting machine having, in combination, a source of supply for folded sheets, a source of supply-for inserts, means for withdrawing the first and a portion of thesecond leaves of a folded sheet from. the first-named source of supply, means for withdrawing an insertfrom the second-named source of supply and inserting the withdrawn insert within the withdrawn portion of the folded sheet, and means engaging the portion of the folded sheet withdrawn from the firstnamed source of supply for binding the insert w1thin said portion and for completing the removal of the folded sheet from the first-named source of supply.

6. An inserting machine having, in combination, three magazines, comprising, respectively, a source of supplyfor folded sheets, a sourceof supply for inserts, and a storage supply for folded sheets each having an insert therein, and means for'withdrawing the first and -a portion of the second leaves of a folded sheet and an insert from the respective source of supplies, inserting the. withdrawn insert between the first and a portion of the second leaves connected by a fold of the withdrawn folded sheet, and stacking the assembledfolded sheet and insert into the third magaz ne. I i p v 7. An inserting machine having, in combination, a source of supply for folded sheets, a source of supply for inserts, means for withdrawing a portion of a folded sheet from the first-named source of supply including the first and a portion of the second leaves connected by a bottom fold and a rearwardly directed vertical fold, and means for withdrawing an insert from the second-named source of supply and inserting the withdrawn insert between said leaves in a direction downwardly and rearwardly relative to the bottom and vertical folds, respectively.

8. An inserting machine having, in combination, a source of supply for folded sheets, a source of supply for inserts, means for withdrawing a portion of a folded sheet from the first-named source of supply including the first and a portion of the second leaves connected by a bottom fold and a rearwardly directed vertical fold, means for correlating the positions of a folded sheet and aninsert in their respective magazines, and means for withdrawing an insert from the second-named source of supply and inserting the withdrawn insert within the withdrawn portion of the folded sheet.

9. An inserting machine having, in combination, a source of supply for folded sheets, a source of supply for inserts, meansfor withdrawing a portion of a folded sheet from the first-named source of supply including the first and a portion of the second leaves connected by a bottom fold and a rearwardly directed vertical fold, means for correlating the positions of a folded sheet and an insert in their respective magazines, means for withdrawing an insert from the secondnamed source of supply and inserting the withdrawn insert within the withdrawn portion of the folded sheet, and means for correlating the last-named means with the correlated positions of a folded sheet and an insert in their magazines, respectively.

10. An inserting machine having, in combina- 1) tion, a magazine for a stack of folded sheets, the folds making the stack longer along one side face than the other side face, and means for feeding the longer side face'of the stack slower than the opposite side face.

11. An inserting machine having, 'incombination, a magazine for a stack of inserts, and means for roughing a spot on the outermost insert in the stack and depositing adhesive on the roughened spot.

12. In an inserting machine, the combination with a pair ofgripping fingers movable forwardly and backwardly in a path, of stationary means for closing thepair upon reaching the end of the path in one direction.

13. In an inserting machine, the combination with a pair of gripping fingers movable forwardly and backwardly in a path, of stationary means for opening the pair upon reaching the end of the path in one direction.

14. In an inserting machine, the combination with a pair of gripping fingers movable forwardly and backwardly in a path, of stationary means forclosing the pair upon reaching the end of the path in one direction, and stationary means for opening the pair upon reaching the end of the path in the opposite direction.

15. In an inserting machine, the combination with a pair of gripping fingers movable forwardly and backwardly in a path, stationary means for closing the pair upon reaching the end of the path in one direction, and stationary means for opening the pair upon reaching the end of the path in the opposite direction, of means for holding the pair opened and closed, respectively, during the forward and backward movement thereof.

16. An inserting machine having, in combination, a source of supply for folded sheets, a source of supplyfor inserts, means for withdrawing the first and a portion of'the second leaves of a folded sheet from the first-named source of supply, means for holding at least a portion of the remaining portion of the folded sheet in the source of supply, and meansfor withdrawing an insert from the second-named source of supply and inserting the withdrawn insert within the withdrawn portion of the folded sheet while at least a portion of the remaining portion thereof is held in the first-named source of supply.

17. An inserting machine having, in combination, a source of supply for folded sheets, a source of supply for inserts, means for withdrawing the first and a portion of the second leaves of a folded sheet from the first-named source of supply, means for holding at least a portion of the remaining portion of the folded sheet in the source of supply, means for withdrawing an insert from the second-named source of supply and inserting the withdrawn insert within the withdrawn portion of the folded sheet while at least a portion of the remaining portion thereof is held in the first-named source of supply, and means embracing the two vertical portions of the folded sheet withdrawn from the first-named source of supply for binding the insert within one of said portions and for completing the removal of the folded sheet from the first-named source of supply.

18. An inserting machine having, in combination, a source of supply for a plurality of 8 page folded sheets, means engaging the outermost face of a folded sheet in the source of supply, means engaging the second leaf of the folded sheet, and means for relatively operating said two means for withdrawing the first and at least a portion of the second leaves from the source of supply.

19. An inserting machine having, in combination, a source of supply for a plurality of 8 page folded sheets, a source of supply for inserts, means engaging the outermost face of a folded sheet in the source of supply, means engaging the second leaf of the folded sheet, means for relatively operating said two means for withdrawing the first andat least a portion of the second leaves from the source of supply to form a pocket between the first and second leaves, and means for withdrawing an insert from the source of supply thereof and inserting the with drawn insert in the pocket formed between the first and second leaves.

20. An inserting machine having, in combination, a source 'of supply for a plurality of 8 page folded sheets, a'source of supply for inserts, means engaging the outermost face of a folded sheet in the source of supply, means engaging the second leaf of the folded sheet, means for relatively operating said two means for withdrawing the first and at least a portion of the second leaves from the source of supply to form a pocket between the first and second leaves, means for withdrawing an insert from the second-named source of supply and inserting the withdrawn insert in the pocket formed between the first and second leaves, and means embracing the first and at least the portion of the fourth leaves withdrawn from the first-named source of supply for binding the insert within the first and second leaves and for completing the removal of the folded sheet from the first-named source of supply.

FRED W. BARKLEY. 

